Annual report and accounts for the year ended 30 September 2025
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk |
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| Page | Contents |
|---|---|
| 3 | Legal and administrative information |
| 4-6 | Report of the trustees |
| 7 | Statement of financial activities |
| 8 | Balance sheet |
| 9-12 | Notes forming part of the financial statements |
| 13 | Independent examiner’s report |
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk | www.sonshineclub.org.uk PAGE 2
Trustees Dr Moses Lewis Mrs Sarah Bard Mr Salo Heimann Ms Pearl Weinberger Mrs Rachel Gruber
Administration address Mrs Rachel Gruber 9 Watermint Quay Craven Walk London N16 6DN
Charity number 1124803
Accountants Finer Accounting Ltd
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk | www.sonshineclub.org.uk
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Report of trustees
Statement from the Chair
What can children do if they’re only given the chance?
At Sonshine Club, we’ve made it our mission to find out.
Every day, we strive to give children innovative opportunities to explore and discover the world around them. We understand that children face varied difficult circumstances at home and in school, and we understand, too, that they possess enormous potential and creativity which often lacks an outlet.
Enter Sonshine Club: a charity dedicated to giving children that chance, supporting them with nature activities, sports, and whatever else can help them grow into their best possible selves.
Our belief in children and their potential extends to those with disabilities, too. We firmly believe that with the right support and encouragement every child can go places and realize their dreams – they just need to be given the chance. And we’re here to do that.
It is an honour for me to present Sonshine Club’s annual report and accounts. Read on to discover the hundreds of young lives we’ve offered a chance to this year – and their spectacular successes.
Mrs Sarah Bard Chair of Trustees
Charitable objectives
1) To educate and help children and young people living in Hackney and the surrounding area, by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities for their recreation during out of school hours and school holidays.
2) To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life.
Structure, governance and management
TThe charity is a charitable company established in May 2008 and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles. The charity is run by the board of Trustees, who are required to apply the charity’s resources to achieve its charitable objects and to provide strategic leadership for the charity’s work.
The four Trustees leading the charity possess wideranging skills, knowledge and experience in areas related to the charity’s activities. 75% of the Trustees
have lived experience of raising a child with disabilities, giving them the tools and sensitivity to support others facing similar struggles.
All Trustees were provided with a full induction into the charity’s work prior to their appointment, and they meet regularly to govern and lead the charity.
Achievement and performance
A Chance to Score
We continued to operate our weekly football sessions, one of our most popular ongoing projects, thanks to generous funding support from Young Hackney and Sportivate.
We know many of our users have very few sporting opportunities and wanted to enable them to learn valuable sporting skills, as well as the improved social skills and mental wellbeing which result. That’s why, every Friday saw a group of eager boys trooping to Springfield Park to meet up with their football coach for another exhilarating round of sports. Together they learned to kick, run, score, play fair, and play kind – and to work together as a team.
Children with disabilities were invited to the football sessions half an hour earlier than the rest, and were
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk | www.sonshineclub.org.uk
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Report of trustees
given their personal time and space to practice easy moves. This allowed them to integrate well into the group and join the game after, just like anyone else.
A Chance to Grow
Throughout the summer months, we ran our weekly gardening clubs as in previous years. Supported by 5 year funding from City Bridge, and supplemented by funding from The National Lottery, we were able to deliver six months of weekly gardening sessions to inner-city children who otherwise hardly have the opportunity to experience nature hands-on. Along with a professional gardener and a keen group of volunteers, the children met up in a local park during after-school hours for an afternoon of planting, nurturing and harvesting their very own vegetables.
Sessions focused also on healthy eating, using the exciting process to instil in children an interest in trying new, healthy foods. As one participant remarked, I’m taking home all these vegetables I planted and will cook it up together with my siblings.
That’s our mission accomplished, right there.
A Chance to Care
Some of our Trustees are parents of children with disabilities, and personally understand the struggle families face whenever there is a gap in school provision – such as on half-terms and other school holidays. We therefore aim to fill that space by offering exciting clubs whenever school is closed.
Fondly termed by our users as playscheme, the provision included minimum 6 hours a day of one-onone care for each child attending, as well as hot lunches, stimulating activities, and a caring, compassionate attitude towards each child. The children benefited from the warmth, encouragement and meticulous attention to their needs – and their parents and families enjoyed a day of much-needed respite, knowing their children were in loving, capable hands. Without funding from Mayor for London- Kitchen Social this vital project wouldn’t be happening. Literally a lifesaver for the children and their families!
A Chance to Celebrate
Last year, in honour of Sonshine Club’s twentieth
birthday, we began work on a special gardening project, with our end goal being to have incorporated a raised garden bed and accompanying gardening sessions in twenty local schools.
In the reporting year, we successfully embedded this work in 13 schools!
This means that thirteen classes in thirteen different schools received a newly-built raised garden bed, along with our professional advice pack to support the class teacher on delivering weekly gardening lessons. We’ve been hearing incredible feedback from teachers, parents and kids – the children have thrived with the chance to learn new, practical skills they hadn’t had access to before, and eagerly await the gardening session – it’s the highlight of their week.
Although only one class per school could receive the items, school staff reported school-wide benefits – other children walk past the gardening area, asking questions and learning new information, getting caught up in the excitement to discover nature. Additionally, this has allowed children to enhance previously derelict areas of the school premises with fresh, cheerful flowers and produce.
We’re just seven schools away from our goal, which we’ll be working on in the upcoming year.
With thanks to Compass Wellbeing for kindly sponsoring this project.
A Chance to Explore
This year, we trialled the innovative teaching method of Forest School, where children with additional needs, unable to attend school for whichever reason, instead had the opportunity to discover and learn through experiencing the natural world daily. We operated the school for a short span of time to a group of six children in Abney Park, led by a qualified Forest School teacher.
The pilot project was an interesting learning experience. Parents and stakeholders immediately noticed the impact it had on their children – they came home rejuvenated and bursting with wonder at all they’d learned. However, funding restraints prevents us from expanding this project for the time being.
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk | www.sonshineclub.org.uk
PAGE 5
Report of trustees
A Chance to Expand
In the interests of garnering additional income for Sonshine Club to continue its vital work, we’ve been running a small social enterprise for a few years now. We offer extracurricular activity sessions and guidance to schools and other organisations, along with special equipment for a range of programs. This enterprise has provided our charity with some additional funds to support its ongoing projects.
Plans for the future
A Chance to Continue
We hope to increase our fundraising efforts in the upcoming months. The funding climate is only becoming more challenging, but the needs of our users remain important to us, and we are committed to doing whatever we can to support them best.
Thinking about the next few years, we’d like to expand to providing support for growing numbers of children, with particular focus on those with SEND. We’d like to see our charity helping children with SEND as well as their families, with a range of services such as inclusion, advocacy, respite, guidance with schooling, housing and social care, and so on.
Financial Review
The Trustees gratefully acknowledge that the outstanding impact and achievement of the organisation are largely due to the generous support of London Borough of Hackney, along with other anonymous supporters and community donors.
Reserves policy
The Trustees aim to maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the Charity at a level of at least three months running costs.
Public benefit
The trustees confirm their compliance with the duty to have due regard to the Public Benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission as well as the Equality Act 2010 when reviewing the Charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
Trustees responsibilities statement
Charity Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the Balance Sheet, date, and of its incoming resources, including income and expenditure for the financial year.
In preparing those financial statements, the trustees should follow best practice and: a) Select suitable accounting policies and the apply them consistently.
b) Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
c) Follow applicable accounting standards and the Charities SORP 2015, disclosing and explaining any departures in the financial statements.
d) Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them as Trustees to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charity Law.
The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the charity's assets and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other regularities.
Risk management
The Charity has identified and assessed the major risks to which it is exposed, in particular those of safety and protection of the vulnerable young adults whilst in the Charity's care as well as the finances of the Charity. The Charity is satisfied that systems are in place and routinely assessed including procedures for Child Protection, Health and Safety, Vulnerable Adults Policy and Financial Management and Controls.
Approval
The Trustees’ annual report was approved on 14 July 2025 and signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by:
Mrs Sarah Bard
Trustee
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk | www.sonshineclub.org.uk
PAGE 6
Statement of financial activities for the year ended 30 September 2025
Notes Unrestricted Restricted 2025 2024 funds funds Total funds Total funds £ £ £ £ Incoming resources Activities to further the charity’s objects 2 29,522 107,851 137,373 246,295 Interest income 0 0 0 0 Total incoming resources 29,522 107,851 137,373 246,295 Resources expended Cost of generating funds 2,821 0 2,821 7,418 Net incoming resources available for charitable application 26,701 107,851 134,552 238,877 Cost of activities in furtherance of the charity’s objects 3 29,406 104,707 134,113 157,149 Governance costs 5 1,900 0 1,900 2,342 Total charitable expenditure 31,306 104,707 136,013 159,491 Total resources expended 3 34,127 104,707 138,834 166,909 Net movement in funds (4,605) 3,143 (1,461) 79,386 Transfer to/(from) reserves 0 0 0 0 Net reserves for the year (4,605) 3,143 (1,461) 79,386 Total funds brought forward 53,711 75,931 129,642 50,256 Total funds carried forward 11 £ 49,107 £ 79,074 £ 128,181 £129,642
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk |
PAGE 7
Balance sheet at 30 September 2025 Notes 2025 2024 £ £ Fixed assets Tangible assets 8 ,021 ,,,31 ,021 ,,,31 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand 131,104 50,355 131,104 50,355 Creditors Amounts falling due within one year 9 (,1,350 ) (,1,490 ) Net current assets 129,754 48,865 Total assets less current liabilities 129,775 48,896 Net assets 11 £ 129,775 £ 48,896 Restricted funds 12 79,074 75,931 Unrestricted funds 13 49,107 53,711 Total funds £ 128,182 £129,642
Approved by the trustees on 8 July 2026, and signed on behalf of them all.
Mrs Sarah Bard Trustee
The notes on pages 9 to 12 form part of these accounts.
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk | www.sonshineclub.org.uk
PAGE 8
Notes to the accounts – 30 September 2025
1) Principal accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The Accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with the Charities Act (Accounts and Reports) 2011, and the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities 102, and follow the recommendations in Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (effective from April 2015).
Cash flow
The accounts do not include a cash flow statement because the charity as a small reporting entity is exempt from the requirement to prepare such a statement.
Donations and fund accounting
Donations received for the general and main purposes of the charity is included as unrestricted funds in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Donations and grants for activities restricted by the donors are taken to restricted funds if the wishes and conditions of the donor are legally binding on the trustees.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided after taking into account of any grants receivable at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life: Fixtures and fittings: 25% on net book value Durable tools: 25% on net book value Durable equipment: 25% on net book value
Resources expended
Management and administration costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
The irrecoverable element of VAT is included with the item of expense to which it relates.
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk | www.sonshineclub.org.uk
PAGE 9
Notes to the accounts – 30 September 2025
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds 2025 2024 2) Incoming funds £ £ £ £ Donations received 11,439 11,439 15,571 Social Enterprise income 18,083 18,083 9,697 Community Organisation TN Lottery 0 44,389 Arnold Clark 2,500 2,500 0 City of London 7,295 7,295 7,681 Compass Wellbeing 45,757 45,757 49,962 East End Comm Foundation 0 9,308 ESC Lottery Fund 9,530 9,530 0 GLA Building Stronger Community 0 999 Groundwork 0 1,368 HAF 1,053 1,053 1,811 LB Hackney 24,995 24,995 55,027 London Marathon 0 150 LYC Community Fund City Airport 0 3,000 Mayor of London-Kitchen Social 5,030 5,030 3,400 Merchant Taylor 0 0 4,391 Shoresh Charitable Trust 983 983 983 Skipton 0 1,000 Sported Foundation 1,000 1,000 0 The Bradians Trust 0 2,760 The Childrens Aid Committee 0 1,000 The Gosling Foundation 0 9,000 The London Community Foundation 0 10,000 Trees of David 1,000 1,000 0 Young Hackney 8,708 8,708 9,500 Total incoming funds £ 29,522 £ 107,851 £ 137,373 £ 246,295
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk |
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Notes to the accounts – 30 September 2025
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ 3) Analysis of total resources expended charitable activities Cost of activities in furtherance of the charity’s objects Charitable activity costs 22,406 49,261 71,667 79,720 Evaluation and learning 4,000 700 4,700 10,881 Insurance 840 840 1,094 Materials and activity packs 10,000 10,000 10,662 Office costs 12,292 12,292 15,797 Refurbishment 2,125 2,125 8,115 Staff costs 20,860 20,860 21,469 Volunteer expences 3,000 7,562 10,562 7,151 Website ,1,068 1,068 2,260 Total charitable activities 29,406 104,708 134,113 157,149 Total cost of activities in furtherance of the charity’s objects £ 29,406 £ 104,708 £ 134,113 £ 157,149 4) Cost of generating funds £ 2,821 £ 7,418 5) Governance costs Accountancy 001,350 1,350 1,350 Legal 550 0 550 992 £ ,1,900 £ 0 £ ,1,900 £ ,2,342 6) Taxation The charity is exempt from taxation on its charitable activities. 2025 2024 7) The average number of employees during the year: on a full time equivalent basis 12 12 No employee was paid above £60,000 per year.
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk | www.sonshineclub.org.uk
PAGE 11
Notes to the accounts – 30 September 2025
| 8) Tangible fixed assets |
Fixtures and Durable Durable | Total |
|---|---|---|
| fittings tools equipment | ||
Cost or valuation |
£ £ £ | £ |
| At 30 September 2024 | ,689,963,543 | 2,195 |
| Additions | ,000,000 | ,000 |
| Disposals | ,000,000,000 | ,000 |
| At 30 September 2025 | ,689,963,543 | 2,195 |
| Depreciation | ||
| At 30 September 2024 | ,686,939,539 | 2,164 |
| Charge for theyear | ,001,08,001 | ,010 |
| At 30 September 2025 | ,687,947,540 | 2,174 |
| Valuation | ||
| 30 September 2025 | 0£,020£,160£,3 | 0£,21 |
| 1 October 2024 |
0£,030£,240£,04 | 0£,31 |
| 9) Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Accruals | 1,350 | 1,490 |
| £ 1,350 | £,1,490 | |
| 10) Creditors: amounts falling due after | more than one year 2025 | 2024 |
| £ | £ | |
| Bank loans and overdrafts | ,000 | ,000 |
| Debt due after more than one year | £ 0 | £ 0 |
| 11) Net assets of the charity’s funds |
Fixed Current Long term | Fund |
| assets assets liabilities | balances | |
| £ £ £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | ,000 50,680,000 | 50,680 |
| Total funds | 0£,21 £ 129,754 £ 0 | £ 129,775 |
| 12) Restricted funds: movements in the | year | |
| Balance at Income Expended Transfer | Balance at | |
| 1 October to/from | 30 September | |
| 2024 reserves | 2025 | |
| £ £ £ £ | £ | |
| 75,931 107,851 104,707 0 | 79,074 | |
| Total Funds | £ 75,931 £107,851 £ 104,707 £ 0 | £ 79,074 |
| 13) Unrestricted funds: movements in the year | ||
| Balance at Income Expended Transfer | Balance at | |
| 1 October to/from | 30 September | |
| 2024 Reserves | 2025 | |
| £ £ £ £ | £ | |
| General reserves | 53,711 29,522 34,127 0 | 49,107 |
| Total funds | £ 53,711 £ 29,522 £ 34,127 £ 0 | £ 49,107 |
14) Related party transactions
No trustee nor any person connected with them received any remuneration, or claimed any expense,during the year, from this or any related charity.
There were no related party transactions in the year.
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk | www.sonshineclub.org.uk
PAGE 12
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees on the unaudited accounts of the charity Sonshine Club for the year ended 30 September 2025
We report on the financial statements of Sonshine Club for the year ended 30 September 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet and the related notes. These financial statements have been prepared, under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the recommendations in Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (Issued 2015), and the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities 102 (effective 2016), and the accounting policies set out therein.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and the independent examiner
As described on page 5, the trustees of the charity are responsible for the preparation of the accounts, and they consider that the audit requirement of section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is our responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 144 of the Act, whether particular matters have come to our attention.
Basis of the independent examiner’s report
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners.
An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. These procedures provide only the assurance expressed in our opinion. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Opinion
In our opinion, no matter has come to our attention,
1) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met; or
2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Date 8 July 2026
Independent examiner
Finer Accounting Ltd
SONSHINE CLUB – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Sonshine Club | Charity number 1124803 | activities@sonshineclub.org.uk | www.sonshineclub.org.uk
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